Mexico, France make Dream team

Mantarraya renews relationship with Labadie

Mexico’s Mantarraya Producciones, run by Jaime Romandia and Carlos Reygadas, and Reygadas’ label No Dream Cinema have renewed their relationship with Jean Labadie, following Labadie’s surprise ouster from Bac Films last year.

When at Bac, Labadie handled Reygadas’ “Battle in Heaven” and co-produced his “Silent Light,” which it distributed in France and worldwide, as well as the two companies’ “The Influence,” by Pedro Aguilera.

“Our relation with No Dream and Mantarraya is based on our admiration for their choices as producers and filmmakers, the unique style they have developed and the originality of each project,” said Labadie.

“Our relationship is going to be more than a deal for one film, hopefully a long and fruitful pact to produce and spread worldwide great films together,” he added.

A strong Mexican fest bet for later in the year, “Bastards” is the second film by Mexico’s Amat Escalante, one of the country’s most buzzed-about young filmmakers.

His debut, “Sangre,” was a Fipresci prizewinner at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2005. Escalante wrote the screenplay for “Bastards,” at the Cannes Residence. He’s currently editing in Turkey, which, he says, serves for inspiration on post.

“Bastards” turns on the sacrifices of Mexican immigrants working illegally in the U.S. It was 30% financed by Mexican Article 226 tax coin.

Mantarraya will use the Berlinale to unveil a 10-minute trailer of Mexican Eduardo Villanueva’s “Reise nach Tulum” (Trip to Tulum) in the fest’s now traditional Latin American Works in Progress showcase, which runs Monday and Tuesday.

A sign of Mantarraya’s no-borders mentality, pic was shot over two years largely in Berlin and in German, chronicling a young man’s search for a spirituality without religion.

“We’re not dominated by any concept of borders. We’re interested in good films by good filmmakers anywhere,” said Romandia.